A further update on mortality and morbidity in patients with very low hemoglobin levels who decline blood transfusion.

Background: In the past two decades, researchers have published mortality and morbidity rates in patients with very low hemoglobin levels declining blood transfusion. The clinical knowledge and tools available for the management of patients who decline transfusions have grown since these publications. The aim of our study was to provide a further update on outcomes associated with severe anemia in these patients.

Mitochondrial genomes of Pleistocene megafauna retrieved from recent sediment layers of two Siberian lakes.

Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) from lake sediments has yielded remarkable insights for the reconstruction of past ecosystems, including suggestions of late survival of extinct species. However, translocation and lateral inflow of DNA in sediments can potentially distort the stratigraphic signal of the DNA. Using three different approaches on two short lake sediment cores of the Yamal peninsula, West Siberia, with ages spanning only the past hundreds of years, we detect DNA and identified mitochondrial genomes of multiple mammoth and woolly rhinoceros individuals-both species that have been extinct for thousands of years on the mainland.

The first European woolly rhinoceros mitogenomes, retrieved from cave hyena coprolites, suggest long-term phylogeographic differentiation.

The woolly rhinoceros () is an iconic species of the Eurasian Pleistocene megafauna, which was abundant in Eurasia in the Pleistocene until its demise beginning approximately 10 000 years ago. Despite the early recovery of several specimens from well-known European archaeological sites, including its type specimen (Blumenbach 1799), no genomes of European populations were available so far, and all available genomic data originated exclusively from Siberian populations. Using coprolites of cave hyenas () recovered from Middle Palaeolithic layers of two caves in Germany (Bockstein-Loch and Hohlenstein-Stadel), we isolated and enriched predator and prey DNA to assemble the first European woolly rhinoceros mitogenomes, in addition to cave hyena mitogenomes.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostic Algorithms of Preoperative Anemia.

Objectives: Preoperative management of anemia is one of the pillars of patient blood management. Diagnostic algorithms developed to support an anemia diagnosis have not yet been validated. The aim of this study was to validate and compare three commonly used diagnostic algorithms for preoperative anemia.

Theoretical insights into the spectroscopic properties of ferrocenyl hetaryl ketones.

Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out to elucidate the electronic structure as well as to draw structure-property relationships for a series of ferrocenyl hetaryl ketones by means of simulated NMR, IR and UV-vis spectra. In this series, the list of hetaryl groups included furan-2-yl, thiophen-2-yl, selenophen-2-yl, 1H-pyrrol-2-yl and N-methylpyrrol-2-yl. Density functional theory was employed to determine the ground-state properties of the five ketones while their excited-state properties were modeled using a broad range of theoretical methods, namely from time-dependent density functional theory to multiconfigurational and multireference ab initio approaches.

Setting the top 10 priorities for obesity and weight-related research (POWeR): a stakeholder priority setting process.

Objectives: To identify and prioritise the most impactful, unanswered questions for obesity and weight-related research.

Design: Prioritisation exercise of research questions using online surveys and an independently facilitated workshop.

Setting: Online/virtual.

Active repair of a dinuclear photocatalyst for visible-light-driven hydrogen production.

The molecular apparatus behind biological photosynthesis retains its long-term functionality through enzymatic repair. However, bioinspired molecular devices designed for artificial photosynthesis, consisting of a photocentre, a bridging ligand and a catalytic centre, can become unstable and break down when their individual modules are structurally compromised, halting their overall functionality and operation. Here we report the active repair of such an artificial photosynthetic molecular device, leading to complete recovery of catalytic activity.

Strong Ligand Stabilization Based on π-Extension in a Series of Ruthenium Terpyridine Water Oxidation Catalysts.

The substitution behavior of the monodentate Cl ligand of a series of ruthenium(II) terpyridine complexes (terpyridine (tpy)=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) has been investigated. H NMR kinetic experiments of the dissociation of the chloro ligand in D O for the complexes [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl (1, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and [Ru(tpy)(dppz)Cl]Cl (2, dppz=dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) as well as the binuclear complex [Ru(bpy) (tpphz)Ru(tpy)Cl]Cl (3 b, tpphz=tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3'',2''-h:2''',3'''-j]phenazine) were conducted, showing increased stability of the chloride ligand for compounds 2 and 3 due to the extended π-system. Compounds 1-5 (4=[Ru(tbbpy) (tpphz)Ru(tpy)Cl](PF ) , 5=[Ru(bpy) (tpphz)Ru(tpy)(C H OS)/(H O)](PF ) , tbbpy=4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) are tested for their ability to run water oxidation catalysis (WOC) using cerium(IV) as sacrificial oxidant.

Environmental Detection and Potential Transmission of Equine Herpesviruses.

Equine herpesviruses (EHV) are a major health concern for domestic and wild equids and represent one of the most economically important disease agents of horses. Most known EHVs are transmitted directly between individuals as a result of direct exposure to exudates and aerosols. However, accumulating evidence suggests that environmental transmission may play a role including air, water, and fomites.

Seasonal host and ecological drivers may promote restricted water as a viral vector.

In climates with seasonally limited precipitation, terrestrial animals congregate at high densities at scarce water sources. We hypothesize that viruses can exploit the recurrence of these diverse animal congregations to spread. In this study, we test the central prediction of this hypothesis - that viruses employing this transmission strategy remain stable and infectious in water.

Effects of life history stage and climatic conditions on fecal egg counts in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti National Park.

In wildlife, endoparasite burden can be affected by host life history stage, environmental conditions, host abundance, and parasite co-infections. We tested the effects of these factors on gastrointestinal parasite infection in plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania, using fecal egg counts of two nematode families (Strongylidae and Ascarididae) and the presence/absence of cestode (Anoplocephalidae) eggs. We predicted higher egg counts of Strongylidae and Ascarididae, and increased likelihood of Anoplocephalidae infection in individuals (1) during energetically costly life history stages when resource allocation to immune processes may decrease and in young zebras after weaning because of increased uptake of infective stages with forage, (2) when climatic conditions facilitate survival of infective stages, (3) when large zebra aggregations increase forage contamination with infective stages, and (4) in individuals co-infected with more than one parasite group as this may indicate reduced immune competence.

Iron(0)-Mediated Stereoselective (3+2)-Cycloaddition of Thiochalcones via a Diradical Intermediate.

Reactions of α,β-unsaturated aromatic thioketones 1 (thiochalcones) with Fe (CO) leading to η -1-thia-1,3-diene iron tricarbonyl complexes 2, [FeFe] hydrogenase mimics 3, and the thiopyrane adduct 4 are described. Obtained products have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and by computational methods. Completely regio- and diastereoselective formation of the five-membered ring system in products 3, containing four stereogenic centers, can be explained by an unprecedented, stepwise (3+2)-cycloaddition of two thiochalcone molecules mediated by Fe (CO) .

Terrestrial mammal surveillance using hybridization capture of environmental DNA from African waterholes.

Determining species distributions can be extremely challenging but is crucial to ecological and conservation research. Environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches have shown particular promise in aquatic systems for several vertebrate and invertebrate species. For terrestrial animals, however, eDNA-based surveys are considerably more difficult due to the lack of or difficulty in obtaining appropriate sampling substrate.

Noninvasive Detection of Equid Herpesviruses in Fecal Samples.

Equid herpesviruses (EHVs) are pathogens of equid and nonequid hosts that can cause disease and fatalities in captivity and in the wild. EHVs establish latent infections but can reactivate, and most EHVs are shed via the nasal passage. Therefore, nasal swabs are generally used for EHV monitoring.

Environmental stressors may cause equine herpesvirus reactivation in captive Grévy's zebras ().

Equine Herpesviruses (EHV) are common and often latent pathogens of equids which can cause fatalities when transmitted to non-equids. Stress and elevated glucocorticoids have been associated with EHV reactivation in domestic horses, but little is known about the correlation between stress and viral reactivation in wild equids. We investigated the effect of an environmental stressor (social group restructuring following a translocation event) on EHV reactivation in captive Grévy's zebras ().

Physiological costs of infection: herpesvirus replication is linked to blood oxidative stress in equids.

Viruses may have a dramatic impact on the health of their animal hosts. The patho-physiological mechanisms underlying viral infections in animals are, however, not well understood. It is increasingly recognized that oxidative stress may be a major physiological cost of viral infections.

Plains zebra (Equus quagga) adrenocortical activity increases during times of large aggregations in the Serengeti ecosystem.

Adverse environmental stimuli (stressors) activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and contribute to allostatic load. This study investigates the contribution of environmental stressors and life history stage to allostatic load in a migratory population of plains zebras (Equus quagga) in the Serengeti ecosystem, in Tanzania, which experiences large local variations in aggregation. We expected higher fGCM response to the environmental stressors of feeding competition, predation pressure and unpredictable social relationships in larger than in smaller aggregations, and in animals at energetically costly life history stages.

Equine behavioral enrichment toys as tools for non-invasive recovery of viral and host DNA.

Direct collection of samples from wildlife can be difficult and sometimes impossible. Non-invasive remote sampling for the purpose of DNA extraction is a potential tool for monitoring the presence of wildlife at the individual level, and for identifying the pathogens shed by wildlife. Equine herpesviruses (EHV) are common pathogens of equids that can be fatal if transmitted to other mammals.

Use of autologous fibrin glue for endoscopic treatment of esophageal lesions.

Esophageal leaks are a potentially life-threatening condition. One treatment option is injection therapy with commercially available fibrin glue. We describe herein a method to close esophageal leaks by injecting autologous fibrin glue prepared exclusively with the patient's own blood.

Androgen changes and flexible rutting behaviour in male giraffes.

The social organization of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) imposes a high-cost reproductive strategy on bulls, which adopt a 'roving male' tactic. Our observations on wild giraffes confirm that bulls indeed have unsynchronized rut-like periods, not unlike another tropical megaherbivore, the elephant, but on a much shorter timescale. We found profound changes in male sexual and social activities at the scale of about two weeks.

Behavioural inventory of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis).

Background: Numerous factors like continuous habitat reduction or fragmentation for free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) as well as e.g. suboptimal housing conditions for animals in captivity might lead to behavioural alterations as part of the overall adaptation process to the changing living conditions.

Comparison of different extenders with defined protein composition for storage of stallion spermatozoa at 5 degrees C.

To maintain the fertility of stallion spermatozoa during cooled storage, extender media are added to semen. In this study, three semen extenders were compared: EquiPro which contains defined caseinates and whey proteins instead of dried skim milk. The extender is provided in dry form and dissolved in distilled water prior to use.

Use of a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier in the treatment of severe anemia.

Background: Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers hold promise for the treatment of acute anemia.

Case: We report a patient with severe dysfunctional uterine bleeding. During her hospitalization, her lowest hemoglobin level was 3.